322 GLAREOLID^E. 



" On the 9th April I had taken a few fresh eggs of this species 

 off a bank in the Jhelum near Jellalpoor, but the birds at that 

 time showed little anxiety about their eggs, of which we in no case 

 found more than two in any one depression." 



Lieut. H. E. Barnes informs us that this Pratincole breeds at 

 Kotri in Sind early in March. 



Major "Wardlaw Bamsay says : " The small Pratincoles breed 

 in great numbers on the sandbanks of the Sittang in April and 

 May, just before the rains commence. In the year 1875 the change 

 of the moDsoon took place nearly a month before the usual time, 

 and consequently the sandbanks, on which were lying hundreds of 

 eggs of this bird, JS. seena, S. melanogastra, and RTiynclwps albicoUis, 

 were covered with water, and in a few days every egg was swept 

 away." 



Eeferring to the Irrawaddy river, Mr. Gates says of this bird : 

 " Commences to lay about the middle of April." 



The eggs of this species appear to differ very widely from those 

 of the Collared Pratincole. The eggs of this latter are more of the 

 Plover type, and remind one very strongly of those of the Cream- 

 coloured Courser, whereas those of the present species are, at any 

 rate in the character of their markings, more closely related to 

 those of the Terns in whose company they breed, than to those of 

 any of the Plovers. The eggs are typically broad ovals, pointed at 

 one end ; the shell is close, but somewhat chalky in its texture, and 

 entirely devoid of gloss. Jn the colour of the ground, as in that 

 of the markings, an extraordinary diversity exists. The two 

 commonest ground-colours are pale greenish white and pale fawn- 

 colour ; but buff, reddish-brown, pinkish-grey, and white grounds 

 are all common. The markings are of two kinds, the one which 

 we may call the primary markings are spots, specks, streaky 

 blotches, and hieroglyph ic-like lines of various shades of olive and 

 reddish brown ; while the secondary markings, which appear to 

 underlie the former, are fainter or brighter purple streaks or clouds. 

 Owing to the comparative predominance of one or other of these 

 two principal forms of markings, and to the diversity in their cha- 

 racters, so many different combinations result that practically it is 

 scarcely possible to pick out two eggs that closely resemble each 

 other, although there is a general sameness in them and an especial 

 character about them which prevents their being mistaken for those 

 of any other species with which I am acquainted. 



The eggs vary in length from O95 to 1*18, and in breadth 

 from 0*78 to O88 ; but the average of sixty -two eggs is T05 

 by 0-82. 



